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Technical advances and infrastructure development were severely neglected during the civil war from 1975 to 2002. Unfortunately, the effects of this are still evident today – including the impact on the electricity supply: Instead of a nationwide integrated grid, there are three independent regional electricity grids as well as several standalone solutions. Overall, only roughly one third of the roughly 24 million residents have access to electricity. Today, Angola is the second largest crude oil exporter in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, when it comes to its own power supply, the country on the west coast relies on hydroelectric power for two thirds of its electricity. There is a lot of potential here, which must be tapped gradually. With average solar irradiation of approx. 2,000 kWh/m² annually, the conditions are also good for solar power. While the Angolan government subsidises solar power use, it has not caught on yet.

German solar energy systems as pilot projects in Angola

SUNSET Energietechnik GmbH viewed this situation as a promising opportunity to promote the company’s wide range of products. As part of the RES Programme of the Deutsche EnergieAgentur (dena) – the German Energy Agency –, two plants were installed, the first of which is highly prominent in the country’s capital. This grid-connected photovoltaic system with a capacity of 31.68 kWp at Luanda International School (LIS) was opened on 10 December 2014 with high-ranking politicians and business people in attendance. In a permanent exhibition in the school building, four wall charts show how solar energy systems can be used for different purposes. The second plant is near Huambo, the country’s second largest city. The location chosen was the Sambo missionary station, which previously had to do without a power supply. This allowed SUNSET to show the great variety of applications for renewable energy technology in off-grid regions too: A solar thermal system for heating water, a mini-grid PV system, a hybrid PV/wind plant, solar lights and a deep well pump system now make living and working at the missionary station far easier.

About the German project partner

Since its foundation in 1979, SUNSET Energietechnik GmbH from Adelsdorf near Erlangen has been a pioneer in having solar energy recognised as an alternative to conventional energy sources. In this way, SUNSET has become an industry-leading medium-sized company.

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